Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in edible aquatic insect Pantala sp. (Odonata: Libellulidae) from rice fields

Researchers detected microplastics in edible dragonfly larvae collected from rice fields, finding an average of 1.34 particles per individual with fragments being the most common type, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through insect-based food chains.

2022 PeerJ 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Nutritional Compositions of Aquatic Insects Living in Rice Fields, with a Particular Focus on Odonate Larvae

Researchers analyzed the nutritional composition of Pantala dragonfly nymphs harvested from rice fields, finding them to be rich in protein (49% dry weight), all nine essential amino acids, and key minerals, supporting their potential as a sustainable food or feed ingredient.

2022 Insects 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Using aquatic insects as indicators of microplastic pollution in rice field ecosystems

Researchers used aquatic insect communities as bioindicators of microplastic pollution in rice field ecosystems, comparing insect diversity and abundance across fields with different levels of plastic contamination. Insect assemblages responded sensitively to microplastic loads, demonstrating their potential as low-cost monitoring tools.

2024 Ecologica Montenegrina 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of selected elements in two commercially available edible aquatic insects (Coleoptera) and their worldwide updated list

Researchers analyzed the elemental composition of two commercially available edible aquatic insects, noting that while they offer significant nutritional value, they may also accumulate heavy metals, pesticide residues, and microplastics from their ecosystems.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Ejection, ingestion and fragmentation of mesoplastic fibres to microplastics by Anax imperator larvae (Odonata: Aeshnidae)

Dragonfly larvae (Anax imperator) were found to eject, ingest, and physically fragment mesoplastic fibers into microplastic pieces, identifying freshwater insects as potential agents in the environmental breakdown of plastic litter. This unexpected role of invertebrates in plastic fragmentation could contribute to the spread of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems.

2020 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Insect Meal: A Valid Analytical Method to Detect It

Researchers developed and validated an analytical method for detecting microplastic contamination in commercial insect meal, finding microplastics present and underscoring the need for standardized testing as insect-based foods enter the human food chain.

2024 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Occurrence Of Microplastics in Immature Aquatic Insects of Gua Musang Tributaries in Kelantan

Researchers investigated the presence and abundance of microplastics in freshwater immature aquatic insects, specifically caddisfly (Trichoptera) and dragonfly (Odonata) larvae, collected from two tributaries of Gua Musang in Kelantan, Malaysia. The study found that microplastics had accumulated in these larvae, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through aquatic food chains in the region.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characterization of Small Microplastics (<100 μm), Additives, and Plasticizers in Larvae of Simuliidae

Researchers found that blackfly larvae (Simuliidae) ingest small microplastics under 100 micrometers in size, along with plasticizers and additives, with significant differences between species — suggesting these insects can serve as indicators of small plastic and chemical pollution in freshwater environments.

2022 Toxics 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of Microplastic Contamination in Commercial Insect Meals

Researchers analyzed commercial insect meal products used in aquaculture feed and found microplastic contamination in all samples tested. Using specialized detection methods, they identified various polymer types including polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester within the insect-based feed. The findings raise questions about whether insect farming, promoted as a sustainable protein source, may inadvertently introduce microplastics into the aquaculture food chain.

2024 Environments 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and physical characterization of microplastics in mangrove-dwelling Fireflies (Coleoptera: Lampyridae) of entotourism importance

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in mangrove-dwelling fireflies in Malaysia, finding microplastics in 50% of larvae and 14.8% of adults, representing one of the first studies of microplastic occurrence in this ecologically and culturally important insect group.

2025 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science
Article Tier 2

Impact of heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens on black soldier fly larvae

Researchers fed black soldier fly larvae substrates contaminated with heavy metals, microplastics, and food pathogens to evaluate tolerance and bioconversion efficiency, finding that certain contaminants reduced larval performance and bioconversion rates with implications for insect-based waste recycling.

2025 Lirias (KU Leuven)
Article Tier 2

Histopathology of chironomids exposed to fly ash and microplastics as a new biomarker of ecotoxicological assessment

Researchers used histopathological analysis of chironomid larvae exposed to fly ash and microplastics as a novel ecotoxicological biomarker, finding distinct tissue damage patterns that could serve as early indicators of aquatic pollution.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of anthropogenic activities on microplastics in deposit-feeders (Diptera: Chironomidae) in an urban river of Taiwan

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance and types in midge larvae (Chironomidae) from an urban river and found that multiple anthropogenic activities including industrial discharge, agriculture, and residential runoff were associated with elevated microplastic levels in these freshwater deposit-feeders.

2021 Scientific Reports 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Review of mayflies (Insecta Ephemeroptera) as a bioindicator of heavy metals and microplastics in freshwater

This review examines how mayflies can serve as living indicators of heavy metal and microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems. Changes in mayfly populations, behavior, and body chemistry reflect contamination levels in rivers and streams. Since microplastics can carry heavy metals into waterways and up the food chain, monitoring these sensitive insects helps scientists track pollution that could ultimately affect human drinking water and food sources.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics affected black soldier fly (Hermetiaillucens) pupation and short chain fatty acids

Researchers exposed black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens) larvae to polypropylene microplastics and found that MP exposure delayed pupation, altered larval development, and shifted gut short-chain fatty acid profiles, suggesting that microplastics disrupt both development and gut microbiome function in this widely used bioconversion insect.

2021 Journal of Applied Entomology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Aquatic insects as mediator for microplastics pollution in a river ecosystem of Bangladesh

Researchers found that aquatic insects in a Malaysian river ecosystem ingest microplastics and can transport them across ecosystem boundaries as the insects emerge from water to land, functioning as biological vectors that move plastic contamination from aquatic to terrestrial food webs.

2025 Scientific Reports 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Similarity of Microplastic Characteristics between Amphibian Larvae and Their Aquatic Environment

Researchers compared microplastic characteristics in amphibian larvae with those in their surrounding aquatic environment, finding similarities in size distribution and polymer types that confirm direct ingestion from water, providing a new bioindicator approach for freshwater microplastic monitoring.

2024 Animals 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of Microplastic in Egypt Wastewater Using Aquatic Insects as Bioindicators

Researchers used aquatic insect larvae as bioindicators to assess microplastic distribution in Egyptian wastewater systems influenced by industrial and human activity. Insects from high-pollution sites accumulated significantly more microplastics, confirming their utility as cost-effective biological indicators for tracking microplastic contamination in freshwater systems.

2024
Article Tier 2

Retention and excretion of microplastics by Yellow Mealworm (Tenebrio molitor) larvae reared on an amino formaldehyde polymer microbeads contaminated substrate

This study examined whether yellow mealworm larvae (Tenebrio molitor) retain or excrete microplastics when raised on contaminated substrates, which is important since mealworms are increasingly used as a food and feed source. Results showed larvae ingested and partially excreted microplastics, raising questions about microplastic accumulation in the food chain through insect-based protein products.

2023 Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Diversity and relative abundance of aquatic insects of Dahaura Lake, Bahraich, U.P.

This ecological survey documented aquatic insect diversity and abundance in Dahaura Lake in India over a six-month period, finding 25 genera from multiple orders. Aquatic insects are bioindicators of water quality and could be used to assess the ecological impacts of microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems.

2023 International Journal of Advanced Academic Studies